Redlands East Valley’s baseball team received its dose of high caliber play throughout the Citrus Belt League season.

Redlands East Valley (15-12) took third in the CBL and doesn’t expect any sort of drop off when it opens play in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoffs at Chino Hills on Friday.

“It was definitely a battle with every game in the CBL,” REV coach James Cordes said. ”Every game we knew it would be a tough match. That alone helped you get ready for the playoffs. Of our losses, four were by one run. We are battled-tested.”

Chino Hills won the tough, well-respected Baseline League.

“The Baseline League is always tough,” Cordes said. “It’s out of the toughest leagues outside of Orange County. You know the Baseline League is good baseball.”

So REV can expect an even better caliber of play.

“Division 2 is top heavy,” Cordes said. “There are some very tough teams to get through. Any way you look at it you are looking at tough opponents.”

Division 2 has just three wild-card games and it features 13 teams with 20 or more wins.

“There are not that many middle-of-the-road teams, teams like us,” Cordes said. “There are a lot of teams that finished on top or got beat up. To me the bracket looks good.”

REV has often drawn teams from Orange County in the early rounds. The Wildcats won’t miss the long bus ride.

“I like our draw,” Cordes said. “It is always nice to play teams you are familiar with. They are a first-place team and it’s going to be tough.”

Chino Hills (17-8) is on a four-game winning streak. The Huskies and REV have at least one opponent in common ‑ the Huskies own an 8-5 victory over CBL runner-up Yucaipa.

REV completed the regular season with a two-game series sweep of Carter.

“I think we are playing as good a baseball as we have up to this point,” Cordes said. “We are senior-heavy. I think we have gone with the philosophy of going older if we can. In the month of May is where that can pay off. Maturation tends to surface and you play good baseball.”

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